# Map geek home decor **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 23, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428 "2012-08-23T23:03:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/1 "2012-08-23T23:03:58Z")
So, after having lived in my present apartment for over a year, I’m finally setting the place up. I’ve had just a clear shower curtain liner in the tub for a while, and I figured it was time to get a shower curtain. I usually buy something with bright colors for $15 or $20, but I’m actually considering splurging on [this one.](http://www.worldmapsonline.com/blue_marble_world_map_shower_curtain.htm) The image is just so geekily cool! I’d decorate my place with [this giant world map mural](http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Graphics-Giant-World-Mural/dp/B0014D3UUO/ref=?ie=UTF8&m=A2R6ZCGWOY4G8R), but I don’t want to lose my deposit. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/2 "2012-08-23T23:23:47Z")
Nice. The physical map has the advantage of not changing. I recall around 2006 or so visiting a friend and noticing that his world map shower curtain still had the Soviet Union on it. Ewww. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/3 "2012-08-23T23:45:24Z")
I wish it came in a shower-stall size. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/4 "2012-08-23T23:49:50Z")
I wish it had a legend. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/5 "2012-08-24T00:55:17Z")
I love map-stuff, too. For decoration purposes, might I suggest getting or borrowing a color printer? You can go online, find whatever kind of maps you want, and work it out to print out for you. Can make them huge, too, if you don’t mind taping printer paper together. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/6 "2012-08-24T01:01:41Z")
> [@](#): > > This unique shower curtain also utilizes Negative Ion technology providing a fresh and positive environment with better air circulation to help purify smelly odors in the bathroom. Negative Ions. I need those. I’ll have to get some more shower curtains. Also some positive vibrations, some neutral ionians and some quantum frequencies. I’ve heard those are good, too. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/7 "2012-08-24T01:57:46Z")
I have a [relief map of Death Valley](http://www.amep.com/prodPix/maps/ZOK-DV2125.jpg) on display about 8 feet from where I’m sitting. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/8 "2012-08-24T02:10:36Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Nice. The physical map has the advantage of not changing. [Except for Lake Chad.](http://www.grida.no/publications/vg/africa/page/3115.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/9 "2012-08-24T02:48:27Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > I’d decorate my place with [this giant world map mural](http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Graphics-Giant-World-Mural/dp/B0014D3UUO/ref=?ie=UTF8&m=A2R6ZCGWOY4G8R), but I don’t want to lose my deposit. Frame it and, rather than affixing it to the wall, prop it up. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/10 "2012-08-24T03:17:40Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Negative Ions. I need those. I’ll have to get some more shower curtains. > > Also some positive vibrations, some neutral ionians and some quantum frequencies. I’ve heard those are good, too. Feng Shuie and let your Freak Flag Fly. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/11 "2012-08-24T04:31:27Z")
A number of us cartographers have supported an effort to create a small-scale [public domain map of the world.](http://www.naturalearthdata.com/)There are raster images of the physical world created by the amazing Tom Patterson, and corresponding boundary and cultural information files for GIS users. The latter require special software and a little knowledge, but some big premade physical maps can be found [at Tom’s own Shaded Relief site.](http://www.shadedrelief.com/natural2/pages/download.html). ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/12 "2012-08-24T04:34:34Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I love map-stuff, too. > > For decoration purposes, might I suggest getting or borrowing a color printer? You can go online, find whatever kind of maps you want, and work it out to print out for you. Can make them huge, too, if you don’t mind taping printer paper together. 😃 Ooh–good idea! My department has a huge color printer dedicated to making big, shiny posters. We’re not supposed to use it for non-academic stuff, but maybe I could get away with a couple of big maps, at least of the area of the world I work in. **Nava** –I suppose I could put the mural on a big piece of wood, frame it, and prop it against the wall. It would still be pretty cool. But, somehow, it just wouldn’t feel the same. In any case, I caved in and ordered the shower curtain. I found a slightly cheaper source, with quicker shipping, on Amazon. My bathroom should be geekified by early next week. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/13 "2012-08-24T04:41:33Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I have a [relief map of Death Valley](http://www.amep.com/prodPix/maps/ZOK-DV2125.jpg) on display about 8 feet from where I’m sitting. Nice. I’ve got an old map of [Lake Eucumbene](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Eucumbene) from 1960 that belonged to my grandfather which I need to get framed. When I was at what is now Geoscience Australia I did a few geological maps of Western Australia that I need to get up on the wall as well. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/14 "2012-08-24T07:02:56Z")
I have a map of the world. It’s actual size. – Steven Wright ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/15 "2012-08-24T11:04:40Z")
OP–Nice! I had a basic “political” map of the world (that just means it labels the countries and capitals) as my shower curtain for a while, and now it’s tacked to my home office ceiling. It uses Matt Groening’s “Akbar” font. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/16 "2012-08-24T12:08:11Z")
For years when I was an undergrad I decorated my wall with US Geologic Survey 7.5 minute quadrangles of the New York City area, which I “stitched” together to make one floor-to-ceiling map of NYC. It’s insanely detailed, and you can see at a glance how high different parts of the city are. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/17 "2012-08-24T19:01:59Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > [Except for Lake Chad.](http://www.grida.no/publications/vg/africa/page/3115.aspx) Something similar has happened with the Aral Sea, too. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/18 "2012-08-24T19:17:01Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > I’d decorate my place with [this giant world map mural](http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Graphics-Giant-World-Mural/dp/B0014D3UUO/ref=?ie=UTF8&m=A2R6ZCGWOY4G8R), but I don’t want to lose my deposit. I’m a petroleum geologist so I see this somewhere in most every building I’ve worked in. It incites a lot of travel and work conversations with fellow explorationists. When we lived in Grand Junction I’d taken 4 raised relief quads from that region, cut and glued them together, framed them and hung it from the garage wall. We’d look for places with interesting looking topography and go investigate them weekends. Let me guess… you’re a ‘window-seater’ on the airplane, rght? ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/19 "2012-08-24T20:07:21Z")
I used to pick up topo map puzzles of the National Parks that I have visited over the years, but the ranger/shop stations now longer sell those, but there is [a site that sells custom topo puzzles.](http://www.bigskypuzzles.com/index.php?cPath=3161_3262) That’s my geeky contribution to this thread that I am proud to share. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428/20 "2012-08-24T20:26:54Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > Feng Shuie and let your Freak Flag Fly. > > 🆒 Are you a fan of HCTM? [Fenk Shui.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEZAP8aigdM) [Freak Flag.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhG2lBLCtdA&feature=related) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/map-geek-home-decor/632428.md?page=2)